Twin Peaks: The Return | Finale Explained & Parallel Dimensions Theory

The season finale of Twin Peaks season 3 was one of the most interesting conclusions in a television series, I have seen. As it’s unique presentation brought a cliffhanger that keeps the audience guessing. Let’s dive into the "true meaning", to me, of the show’s outcome.

Thank you everyone for watching and for your support!
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Old Tin Man on Social:
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Background Music:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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Song - Passive Struggle
Artist - Silent Partner

[OldTinMan]

What does the Twin Peaks finale mean to you? I bet you loved the part where weird shit happened, me too.

If you want more Twin Peaks analysis videos on the finale, please let me know! Thank you everyone!

[Daxkalak]

Laura Palmer has the most terrifying scream in film history, that's all I know.

[Qwazin]

Audrey's story, while not connected to any of the others, feels to me like a direct metaphor for the audience experiencing the rest of the show. It starts as a long mystery to figure something out, goes into a nostalgic dream that transitions into a nightmare, and then you wake up and find yourself presented with a mirror.

[theboyscanswim]

I think, in a nutshell, it’s all about the evil presence in Twin Peaks that Phillip Jeffries introduces us to in “Fire Walk With Me”, when he talks about “Judy”. Gordon tells Albert in season 3 about the plan he, Cooper and Briggs had to deal with Judy. When Judy creates Bob during the h-bomb test, the White Lodge creates Laura Palmer to counter Bob. We all know what happened to Laura. So in S3 Cooper and the giant create a parallel reality to hide Laura and hatch a plan for Cooper to travel back in tune and save her. He and Diane go into the alternate universe, and have awkward sec to attract Judy into that reality: and it worked. Judy was in Odessa, because he saw the #6 on the pole and the restaurant called “Judys” that Laura works as a waitress. He takes her back to Twin Peaks to defeat Judy and she does in the end when the facade of Judy at the Palmer house is stirred and destroyed by Laura’s spirit and scream.

[satlaren]

My Brain
Season 1 : Rare
Season 2 : Medium
Season 3 : Well done

[jayson]

I just wish I understood everything about Phillip Jeffries. His travels, who and what he saw, and how he wound up in the tin machine

[nagilumsnangilima]

Here are my two cents. A recurring theme of TP is the duality and balance of nature and existence: Light and Darkness, Ying and Yang, White and Black, Lodge. On Earth, this balance was disrupted when the A-bomb went off in the Nevada desert in '45 thus causing an inter-dimensional rift to open and release the ethereal demons of Judy, Bob, Mike and the woodsmen who look like Abe Lincoln, among others, into our realm. As a response to this, the Fireman, sent a good, ethereal spirit to counterbalance the evil forces which were released into our world through a gnossis sphere (a deus ex machina-like device). I believe that Laura Palmer, Carrie Page, and even Maddy Ferguson were created in that benevolent spiritual being's image- like humans were supposed to be created in the image of God. Remember, in Ep. 8 the Fireman sends the Laura looking entity/spirit directly after the events of the A-bomb explosion and the release of the demons in Nevada.

In effect, Laura, Maddy and Carrie Page were tulpas of the Laura entity. As explained in the series, tulpa's are thoughtform creations, created by two or more entities. Tulpas, however, seem to be yanked from the world, once they come to the complete realization that they are NOT who they seem to be. That's what happened with tulpa Diane; she realized that she was a copy and that she was imminently going to be ripped from reality. Thus, she probably pulled out the gun to shoot herself (not Gordon and Albert). The effect of being ripped or torn from reality is horrifying and painful: like being about to be killed in a dream state and then waking up from that nightmare screaming, thus, the whole reference in the Monica Bellucci dream about the dreamer’s dreaming and the question about who really is the dreamer. This would also jive with what happened to Audrey as the real Audrey probably woke up in a hospital soon after her tulpa sprang the mortal coil. The real Audrey was most likely in a coma from the bomb explosion in the bank 25 years ago. This would also be consistent with the shocked look in Audrey face when she looked at herself in the mirror. She was also wearing a hospital like gown and was in a white room. Bad Coop and some other demons most likely made the tulpa to replace Audrey. I think the main victim, Laura was probably a tulpa too given the fact that she tells James in FWWM that she is not herself and that real Laura was gone long ago.

Regarding the Black Lodge, time is non-linear and doesn't exist in such a fashion in the Lodges- as it does in our world-hence the one armed man's question, "is this the future or the past?" Given this set up, here's what I think happened: the real coop indirectly caused Laura Palmer's murder as well a time loop in Twin Peaks when he went back in time. Indeed, in FWWM, when Laura and James stop in the middle of the woods and talk and Laura looks over James's shoulder across the woods, she screams.But in the movie itself we don't see what she sees- it's left up to the imagination of the viewer. However, in TP3, we see that Agent Cooper is standing behind some trees and bushes staring at her. In the FWWM version, Laura screams and is frightened by what she doesn't understand -- namely, the FBI agent from her dreams and the person whom Annie referred to, is standing across the woods from her. This fear causes her to react by withdrawing to the company of Leo, Jacques, and Ronette for sex, drugs and alcohol which we know ultimately leads to the clutches of Bob, who has possessed Leland. In the TP3 version, Laura makes the alternate and active decision to face her fear and take Coop's hand, which in turn, erases the events leading to her fate. But remember, it's Laura's death that also leads her soul or essence to be trapped in the Black Lodge as well. Since, she is no longer in the BL and since time has no meaning in the BL (at least not the way that we know it), not only does Laura's corpse disappear in Ep. 17, but she is also yanked or torn from the BL in S 03 ep 02. Here's where the analysis gets a bit tricky:the demons that were released way back in '45 (namely Bob and Judy) congregated to TP, Washington because it was a hotbed of spiritual activity. Moreover, they went to the BL (which is not evil by itself per se) in order to gain power and information. I think this is where they gained the knowledge of the existence of the Laura entity which was sent to counterbalance them. Mind you, time is not linear in the BL realm and there is a time loop in TP . And, so Judy and Bob created a birth-like tulpa in Laura Palmer. First, Judy entered young Sarah Palmer's mouth via a bug in '56 and laid dormant inside her. And then, Bob gradually entered into a young Leland Palmer. Sarah and Leland got married and Sarah had Laura Palmer (who is a tulpa of the benevolent Laura entity). S and L sought to use the tulpa to assimilate and corrupt the good Laura entity.

Nonetheless, when Laura chose to go with Coop in Ep 17 instead of going to Leo and gang, the time loop in the TP world was broken. Since Laura never got murdered and never put on the ring which sent her soul or spiritual essence to the BL- Judy and the demons not only lost access to the Laura tulpa, but they also lost the information leading to their awareness of the Laura entity. Judy became aware that she was losing the tulpa and thus any possible opportunity to corrupt the Laura entity so that's why she grabbed the picture with image of Laura and started smashing it. But, without an awareness of who the Laura entity is, the tulpa as a device to gain access to the Laura entity became obsolete so that's why Laura Palmer was ripped from the hands of Coop as they were traveling in the woods. Thus, in effect, Cooper did save Laura but Coop saving her, also had the inapposite result of ripping her from their reality. But, Coop, did also create an alternate timeline by going to the past and perhaps a retroactive alternate timeline. So, without any knowledge or access to the Laura entity in the alternate timeline, and since Laura Palmer never went to the BL in the alternate timeline in the first place, Judy and Bob did not seek to cultivate her as an access device. And although Leland and Sarah did have a daughter in the alternate timeline- in the alternate world, they put her up for adoption as a baby and that she wound up in Odessa, TX with the Page family and was given the name of Carrie Page.

Finally, Coop gained an awareness that his actions created the alternate universe where Laura now may not know of who she was in the first timeline: thus, the whole reference of killing two birds with one stone- saving Laura by taking her with him to make her aware of who she really is. But, I think that Cooper himself did not know that even Carrie Page is a copy and that the only real Laura is the Laura entity itself or herself. Cooper's actions again were doomed to failure because by making Carrie aware of who she was in the other world, Carrie would also come to the sudden realization that she too was a tulpa as some hidden piece of information lay dormant within her--- which was triggered by her visit to her original house in TP. Therefore, the reference to Richard and Linda was thus a warning- Cooper was not meant to go after and save alternate universe Laura (Carrie Page) as Richard and Linda were not meant to be together as so stated in that letter.

Hope this helps.

[mooganify]

Something happened to Cooper after the Bob orb (lol) came out of Evil Cooper, or Mr. C, as you call him. He seemed like a weird mix of the two after that scene happened.

[autodidacticprofessor]

If you read the Final Dossier, Tammy in her attempt to research Twin Peaks history, discovered that the newspaper articles around Laura's death, never mention her death and instead she disappeared. Many other things changed in the original reality we knew. I truly think that the reality we knew from 1989 until Cooper goes back and saves Laura was the "unofficial version" that Jeffries spoke of in reference to "Director Cole will remember the unofficial version". Indeed, Tammy begins to feel the old reality slipping away (as evidence in the strange slow-down effect as she was walking through the hotel).

There was a line from FWWM that makes sense. "Intercourse between two worlds".

In the original reality (119), the events of Laura's death, led to Cooper entering the Black Lodge to find Annie. This led to the creation of his Doppelganger and subsequent entrapment and his double "replacing him" in the physical world. All the events that let up to Season 3, were about the Doppelganger. Almost everything we experience in the series, up until Lucy kills the Doppelganger is due to his actions and behavior. He created Dougie, created a complex worldwide criminal cartel, amassed a fortune and built the glass box, in my opinion, as a trap to pin Cooper inside while Judy enters. It seemed as if the Sam and Tracy situation was set up, no security guard and all, in order to lure Judy into our reality via the box, knowing the even will almost exactly coincide with Cooper entering the box, killing him and leaving nobody to stop him. Clearly the Fireman or other forces, intervened.

Once the Laura story was changed to her going missing, her disappearance in the woods, following the "click" very well could be another "White Lodge" intervention, putting Laura safely in another dimension, under a different identity and only vague, foggy memories of her past. It could even be argued Carrie Page was a Tulpa of Laura, hence the very foggy recollection of her pre-disappearance self. I agree that the Odessa reality could have been a creation with the intention of trapping and destroying Judy. The Fireman stated, "It is in our house, now" and Cooper simply asked, "It is?".... didn't ask what. He knew what "it" was. It likely meant when Judy entered our world through the glass box, all hell was about the break loose. The original reality (119) apparently was doomed for a horrible event that the log lady, Hawk and Andy all had visions or knowledge of. We see Andy in a shaking, fearful pose when he had his vision in the Fireman's house. The only vision that did not come true was that one. That would have been the "end times" where Bad Cooper successfully made it to the Palmer house and delivered Bob to Judy (Ba'al and Jowday), triggering the events that were prophesied. Instead, Cooper saves Laura, the past is changed and for whatever reason the occupant of the Palmer house, being Tremonds, previous Chalfonts, proves that the house was still haunted by Lodge Spirits. Possible a last ditch effort to protect Judy from being destroyed. Once Carrie's memory returned, her "weapon" was unleashed and we might presume their mission was successful, if not also tragic. In the original timeline, Laura dies and is envoloped by Judy, which may be why we see Laura's grin and black finger in the demonic face that possessed Sarah. In that realty, there was no Laura to fight Judy. By saving Laura and putting her in a reality where she doesn't remember her past, she is basically waiting for Cooper to find her. That said, the reality we see with Carrie Page, is clearly teaming with Judy evil. The weird power pole with the same numbers on it we see many times in many "haunted" locations is there. We see the very dead guy on the couch and the white horse on the mantle. "Judy's Diner" and all of that. It could be a masked "Black Lodge" indeed but all it took was Carrie remembering, in order to set off the "bomb" that ultimately kills Judy.

[ramboalienofdoom]

I think that Judy "stole" Laura in episode 17 and took her to a different dimension or time, because she wouldn´t let Dale win. Dale follows them into that different time or dimension in episode 18 to find laura and to bring her back to twin peaks. In the End Carrie Page remembers that she is laura palmer and Judy intervenes (this is at least what I got from watching this season the first time.Need to watch it again sometime.)

[glitchy]

I feel most of the story's plotlines and imagery is intended to by symbolic or descriptive of a meta-narrative. I don't think a "Doctor Who"/"Kingdom Hearts"-like timeline/amnesia breakdown is what works here.

To overly simplify, I think The Return is commentary on revival series and nostalgia pandering most explicitly demonstrated by Part 17's clean conclusion of the rubber glove "boss fight" with BOB and all the characters are reunited. The Return is painful rather than comforting. It's showing how life changes irrevocably, it's mourning the loss of the past.

Preventing Laura's death prevents all those good memories we made with the show. Literally everything we love about Twin Peaks is null if Laura does not die.

[okay__tay]

Honestly my mind is still like wtf after watching the finale. I agree with you about there being a lot of dimensions. I hate the theory that this was all Cooper's dream. That feels like a cop out and something Lynch would never do. He likes to make people think. Even if they just think what the f?! Lol.

[TheChriskilla]

I gotta talk about how amazing this "show" is. I put show in quotes because it honestly feels much more then that. Not even just a emotional experience. It's also a big puzzle with each scene being a piece. I love it

[demonicsweaters]

Okay, here's my take. The very first episode where cooper is sitting with the Fireman was while Mr. C and Briggs were at the fire station. The Fireman tells Cooper, "it's in our house now", referring to Mr. C in the cage. Then tells him to remember Richard and Linda, 430 etc... knowing the soon coming events. Albert, Diane, Cooper, Jefferies, and Cole intentionally released Mr. C into the world to lead them to Judy. This was their "plan". Cole remembers "the unofficial version" which is why he thinks Albert doesn't know. However Albert is fully aware as to what is going on the entire time. The proof of this is during the interrogation scene of Mr. C in Jail. Mr. C looks at Albert and says "I left messages to let Jefferies know it's safe" Albert gives a look of understanding. Afterwards Gordon asks Albert if he knows what's going on, Albert doesn't say no, he says "Blue Rose". So in short, Bad Coop (Mr. C) was actually working for the FBI with Jefferies and part of Blue Rose, he shares memories with the real Cooper and he's happy that Bob was still inside of him because he knows this is his bait to get to Judy. Remember bad Coop is not a Tulpa, he's Cooper's Evil half, but still Cooper. They needed it to be Evil Cooper to hold Bob because Good Cooper would not be able to control him. He doesn't recognize the name Judy, but he knows her because he knows he's searching for the ultimate evil. The forces trying to kill Mr. C are actually the Black Lodge (mike and the arm) Mike was the one Mr. C talked to one the phone at the hotel when he says "then I get to be with bob again". They want to stop Mr. C because they do not want him to lead the FBI to Judy (remember the Black Lodge is evil). Mr C was also the one who setup the Glass Box in NYC. This is hinted at because when Tammy Preston shows the photos she found of him there seemingly in charge, as well as the photo of Mr. C in Brazil in front of his mansion (implying he was rich most likely from drug dealing). When the Glass Box watcher says what he knows about it, he says it's owned by some billionaire, but nobody knows who. This was also an attempt to gather information on Judy by Mr. C. and Blue Rose. Meanwhile good coop gets tricked by the Black Lodge to actually help them by setting him against Mr. C and stops Blue Rose from catching Judy.

[ArcaneStrain]

I'm a few years late to the discussion but, my take on the finale is:
Cooper has been working on a plan while he's been stuck in the Black Lodge.
He's got The Fireman, The Arm/MIKE and Jeffries on his side, but against him are BOB, Mr C and, most importantly, Judy.
I think Mr C (or BOB himself, as Mr C is essentially a vessel for him) is making moves against Judy, he wants her power.
Judy has been waging war against the White Lodge, and knows that Cooper is trying to save Laura.
Laura was created by the Fireman specifically to counteract BOB and Judy, so now Judy wants Laura and Cooper dead.
Because Lodge beings seem to be paracausal (unaffected by cause and effect) they can manipulate time/reality to some degree, so Judy sets a trap for Cooper, Laura and Dianne...
The other reality.
SUMMARY:
In my opinion, the place Cooper finds Carrie Page is a trap, a fake "other timeline" where Laura lives, but as shown by the wrong people living in her house (who happen to have the names of known Lodge entities) and the new personas our characters are losing themselves to, it isn't real. It's a fiction created by Judy to get Laura out of the way so she can enact her plan of destroying or taking over the White Lodge.

[vivverz]

After 15 years from when the series ended, I finally understood the entire 1st and 2nd Season, then I was stoked for Season 3, ugh, and now I'm all confused again. UGH :-( But I really enjoyed your video. Thanks :-)

[gregfulton]

Great take. The Fireman swiped left...and offering up an actual ending to believe in is welcome, but slippery in there.

[nostromo]

If I had to explain my feelings about Twin Peaks, and any of Lynch's work for that matter, it is the following: I love his work, but I don't know why. God help me, I'm just not that bright.

[secondcomingofbast]

There's no alternate dimensions, just one timeline being pulled back and forth, like a game of tug-of-war, between two results of two different fates of Laura Palmer

When Cooper changes Laura's fate, the second timeline was destined to take precedence over the first, but not until it reached the point in time where Cooper initially decided to act to change Laura's fate, and then initiated the steps to take those actions. Which was immediately after the death of Mr. C in E17.

Between then, and Laura's initial death, nothing changed from the first timeline, though certain events within the second timeline would briefly, but just temporarily, manifest from time to time.

The changes in the diner at the end of E7 is a good example of this.

[alenyshka]

Two birds with one stone - get Laura back and kill Judy.
Judy is in there quite obviously, finally the right question of Dale awakens Laura and we know that she is the one. Her energy kills Judy with that scream. Electricity turns down at that dimension, it won't exist anymore. Happy ending for me.